To anyone over 30 trying to teach a budding stargazer the basics of the night sky, it must come as a rude shock today how today's telescopes, have automated tools. The way it's been done so far, you had to really know your star charts, and you really needed to know how to plot and read charts and things.
These days, it's pretty much point-and-shoot – with smart high-tech telescopes and even iPhone apps. These days, choosing a telescope, you just need to go for one of the smart models. You take it out of the box, set it down in your backyard, and the telescope finds its bearings right away. It knows exactly where it is on Earth and which way it's facing. Any which way you move it, it knows where exactly it's being moved and it'll tell you where the star Vega is, where the galaxy Andromeda is and so on.
Choosing a telescope these days, you need to look not just for the size of the lens and so on, but also how much assistance it can give you.
Models in the SkyProdigy range by Celestron that cost about $600 can help bring more and more amateurs into the field. You might think that seasoned astronomers who really took the stairs learning about the skies would disapprove of such automation; but they don't.
They actually think it's a great idea. Because without these aids, most people wouldn't be able to find anything in the sky. And that's a great loss for astronomy – to be reduced to being a difficult hobby for fringe fanatics.
So how exactly does such a telescope go about finding its bearings? They have digital cameras inside that snap pictures of the skies above. They have internal processors and databases that they compare the pictures to, to find a match. Of course, automation and telescopes that help amateurs find things isn't new.
We've for long had telescopes with motors and processors and databases. But up until now, these weren't entirely automatic. They needed to be set up a bit before they could do anything. You still need to know how to align them.
There's a great deal that smartphones can do in all of this too. They have powerful processors and memory and they are Internet-connected. Basically, they can do things that not even the smartest amateur telescopes can do. The $12 Redshift app for Apple's mobile devices can identify all the bright objects in the sky. All you have to do is hold the device up facing the sky. There are lots of other apps that amateur astronomers use, too – Google Sky Map and Star Walk being just two of them.
You'd think that these were niche products for astronomy geeks; but they aren't. They just open the wonderful world of astronomy to mainstream audiences who then want to go and buy telescopes to be able to see everything with their own eyes.
And if you have a telescope and a smartphone, you can buy an adapter to put the phone to the eyepiece and take pictures. It'll be your own picture of Jupiter on your own phone. And that's quite a kick.
Choosing a telescope just became easier. If you're looking to enjoy the wonders of the night sky, there is no better time than now to get a telescope.
Telescope Guide
Astronomers Unite
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Thursday, December 18, 2014
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Telescopes Guide - article on telescopes
Telescope Buyers Guide - Do You Really Need a Telescope?
By Koz Huseyin
Koz Huseyin
Level: Basic PLUS
I have I wide range of interests, and love to share tips, and advice I have learned along the way.
Often we will think that to get into astronomy, you need a telescope. However, this is not true; you also don't need a telescope to get the most out of astronomy. Though a telescope is great, there is a lot you can do without a telescope. In this article, you will discover how you can get into astronomy now!
The biggest way to get into astronomy, without the need for an expensive telescope, is to look at the stars naturally, with the naked eye. Though this may not seem appealing, especially when you have a thirst for a big telescope that can show you the best views of the Jupiter, and other planets, and deep space objects.
The truth is that you will need to know where to look. And here is where people can get stuck. A telescope looks like the best option, however, when you hardly know where objects are in the night sky, and then you can easily find yourself in a position, where you have a great telescope, but don't know much about the objects in the sky.
People, who have been fortunate to have learned the constellations, and other pointers in the night sky, have found more success when they purchased a telescope. This may not be apparent at first, however, it is one that makes or breaks a hobby in the science of astronomy.
All this need not be difficult. Learning the constellations can be done with a bit of research, a star map, and looking outside at night. The result of this effort is immense, because when you do finally buy a telescope, you will know one of the most important things that any traveler will need to know, and that is navigation.
People who have been fortunate to learn a lot about space before buying a telescope, have found a much better hobby when they did buy a telescope. The person immediately knows where Orion is, where Scorpio is, and from there can likely find objects in space much more easily.
A step up from simply observing the heavens with the naked eye is to buy a pair of binoculars. Though this is not essential, it can transform an astronomy hobby into something more. You may even have a pair of binoculars and never considered to look at the night sky to see amazing detail.
Binoculars used for astronomy doesn't seem like an obvious thing to do. However, there are some great benefits to using binoculars for astronomy. Consider for a moment ease, and compactness. And the ability to take binoculars everywhere, you can see why astronomers love binoculars.
A good pair of binoculars may not show you as much detail as a telescope, but they can be great for seeing groups of objects in a more 3 dimensional look. The Moon is a good candidate for binoculars, as you can see so much detail, even though binoculars don't have as much magnification as a telescope.
Elliptical Buying Guide
Read Our Elliptical Buying Guide Get Informed Today Before You Buy!
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Binoculars Telescope
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Celestron Telescopes
Celestron Nexstar SLT, SE, CPC Full line in-stock, Free Shipping
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REI Sale: Up to 30% off
Storewide savings - May 1-10. Plus Members save 20% on 1 non sale item
Telescopes - Big Sale
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Telescopes - Low Prices
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Hot Tubs
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Here are some telescope resources that can help you find and buy a telescope:
Telescope buying guide
Meade telescopes for sale and buying binoculars.
By Koz Huseyin
Koz Huseyin
Level: Basic PLUS
I have I wide range of interests, and love to share tips, and advice I have learned along the way.
Often we will think that to get into astronomy, you need a telescope. However, this is not true; you also don't need a telescope to get the most out of astronomy. Though a telescope is great, there is a lot you can do without a telescope. In this article, you will discover how you can get into astronomy now!
The biggest way to get into astronomy, without the need for an expensive telescope, is to look at the stars naturally, with the naked eye. Though this may not seem appealing, especially when you have a thirst for a big telescope that can show you the best views of the Jupiter, and other planets, and deep space objects.
The truth is that you will need to know where to look. And here is where people can get stuck. A telescope looks like the best option, however, when you hardly know where objects are in the night sky, and then you can easily find yourself in a position, where you have a great telescope, but don't know much about the objects in the sky.
People, who have been fortunate to have learned the constellations, and other pointers in the night sky, have found more success when they purchased a telescope. This may not be apparent at first, however, it is one that makes or breaks a hobby in the science of astronomy.
All this need not be difficult. Learning the constellations can be done with a bit of research, a star map, and looking outside at night. The result of this effort is immense, because when you do finally buy a telescope, you will know one of the most important things that any traveler will need to know, and that is navigation.
People who have been fortunate to learn a lot about space before buying a telescope, have found a much better hobby when they did buy a telescope. The person immediately knows where Orion is, where Scorpio is, and from there can likely find objects in space much more easily.
A step up from simply observing the heavens with the naked eye is to buy a pair of binoculars. Though this is not essential, it can transform an astronomy hobby into something more. You may even have a pair of binoculars and never considered to look at the night sky to see amazing detail.
Binoculars used for astronomy doesn't seem like an obvious thing to do. However, there are some great benefits to using binoculars for astronomy. Consider for a moment ease, and compactness. And the ability to take binoculars everywhere, you can see why astronomers love binoculars.
A good pair of binoculars may not show you as much detail as a telescope, but they can be great for seeing groups of objects in a more 3 dimensional look. The Moon is a good candidate for binoculars, as you can see so much detail, even though binoculars don't have as much magnification as a telescope.
Elliptical Buying Guide
Read Our Elliptical Buying Guide Get Informed Today Before You Buy!
magicJack Free Trial
Never pay for Local & Long Distance Calls Again! Try magicJack Free
Binoculars Telescope
2,000+ Telescopes at Great Prices Shop, Compare and Save at Pronto.
Celestron Telescopes
Celestron Nexstar SLT, SE, CPC Full line in-stock, Free Shipping
The CogniFit Assessment
Measure your 14 cognitive abilities & customize your brain training!
REI Sale: Up to 30% off
Storewide savings - May 1-10. Plus Members save 20% on 1 non sale item
Telescopes - Big Sale
Save Up to 65%. All Major Brands Low Prices. On Sale Now!
Telescopes - Low Prices
Don't pay too much for Telescopes! Compare prices and Research to Save
Hot Tubs
Get Expert Reviews of Top Hot Tubs from Consumer Reports.
Grab a bazaargain
Kayaks, towables, jumping stilts, camping, wakeboards, binoculars.
Celestial Navigation
World's largest selection of navigation equipment and supplies
Here are some telescope resources that can help you find and buy a telescope:
Telescope buying guide
Meade telescopes for sale and buying binoculars.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Amateurs of Astronomy Unite!
Astronomy for Beginners
Is there something incredible out there in space.... Something vast and amazing that lies beyond the realm we know as earth?
Can we expect to run into life out there in the universe???
Of course we can!
Just because you can't always see something with the human eye, doesn't mean that it isn't there. Ponder all the things that lie beyond our atmosphere. Sure you can see millions of light specks in the sky which are stars and yes even the craters of the moon at night, but there's much more out there to relish.
Astronomy is not just for scientists! It's for all people of all skill levels! Even amateurs!
Everyone should give an astronomy for idiots (beginners) book a try.... Give astronomy a chance. Astronomy studies can be a wonderful way to learn all sorts of valuable information out in the galaxies that lie so far far away.
If you have any interest in science you should give astromomy a shot!
Online it's a cinch to get involved with the astronomy for beginners website. Yes indeed, there is a website that allows you to educate yourself from home. Learn all about the nine planets, falling stars, meteors, nebulas, the power of the sun and more.
This is a great subject to introduce to your children. Virtually all kids are instantly fascinated by the stars, moon and outer space. There are numerous astronomy for beginners books found in web stores such as Amazon.com, if you prefer to learn all about space without having to pull up websites.
An excellent aspect of websites focused on astronomy for beginners is the constant updates. While a book from Barnes and Noble or Amazon can provide all sorts of spectacular pictures captured by satellites, the web can show you these photos and more. You see, online the astronomy for beginners websites are literally updated for your convenience. This means you can always see new and exciting space shots and acquire updates on Mars.
This is a big deal when you consider the notion that scientists aim to build on Mars one day. Isn't it time you got involved with astronomy and learned more about the stars, planets and outer space? Think about purchasing a telescope for beginners as well. This way you can get a more in-person view of space and the moon.
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Is there something incredible out there in space.... Something vast and amazing that lies beyond the realm we know as earth?
Can we expect to run into life out there in the universe???
Of course we can!
Just because you can't always see something with the human eye, doesn't mean that it isn't there. Ponder all the things that lie beyond our atmosphere. Sure you can see millions of light specks in the sky which are stars and yes even the craters of the moon at night, but there's much more out there to relish.
Astronomy is not just for scientists! It's for all people of all skill levels! Even amateurs!
Everyone should give an astronomy for idiots (beginners) book a try.... Give astronomy a chance. Astronomy studies can be a wonderful way to learn all sorts of valuable information out in the galaxies that lie so far far away.
If you have any interest in science you should give astromomy a shot!
Online it's a cinch to get involved with the astronomy for beginners website. Yes indeed, there is a website that allows you to educate yourself from home. Learn all about the nine planets, falling stars, meteors, nebulas, the power of the sun and more.
This is a great subject to introduce to your children. Virtually all kids are instantly fascinated by the stars, moon and outer space. There are numerous astronomy for beginners books found in web stores such as Amazon.com, if you prefer to learn all about space without having to pull up websites.
An excellent aspect of websites focused on astronomy for beginners is the constant updates. While a book from Barnes and Noble or Amazon can provide all sorts of spectacular pictures captured by satellites, the web can show you these photos and more. You see, online the astronomy for beginners websites are literally updated for your convenience. This means you can always see new and exciting space shots and acquire updates on Mars.
This is a big deal when you consider the notion that scientists aim to build on Mars one day. Isn't it time you got involved with astronomy and learned more about the stars, planets and outer space? Think about purchasing a telescope for beginners as well. This way you can get a more in-person view of space and the moon.
My Pins: Art & Photos
My Pins: Technology
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